Self-playing musical instrument.



F. E. IVES.

SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLIOATION FILED 001231, 1908.

908,865. Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

FREDERIO E. IVES, OF WOODCLIFFE-ON-HIIDSON, NEW JERSEY.

SELF-PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan; 5, 1909.

Application filed October 31, 1908. Serial No. 460,395.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnnnnro E. IvEs, a citizen of the United States, residing in Woodcliffe-on-Hu'dson, New J ersey, have invented certain Improvements in Self-Playing Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of selfplaying pianos or or ans or detached player mechanisms inwhic the perforated music sheet is combined with an indicatin pointer intended to follow a uide line on t e music sheet representin c anges in tempo, expression or the li e, the object of my present invention being to permit such location of the indicating pointer in respect to the music sheet that it will not interfere with the ready introduction or removal of the latter, while, at the same time, there will be a close 0 tical juxtaposition of the moving end of t e pointer and that portion of the guide line on the music sheet which is passing over the tracker board. This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of sufficient of a self-playing piano to illustrate my present invention, and Fig. 2 is a front View of the same looking in the direction of the line of vision indicated in Fig, 1.

In the drawing, 1 represents part of the front panel of a piano and 2 part of the casing in the rear of the same which contains the tracker board 3 and music sheet rolls 4. Piyotally mounted upon the casing 2 or other convenient support above the music rolls is an indicatin pointer 5, which may be so connected to t e expression or tempo controlling devices of the piano as to move in unison therewith. I have not considered it necessary to show any such connection in the present case, as the particular connection emp oyed forms no part of my present invention. I may, however, refer to my Letters Patent No. 901,906, dated October 20th, 1908, as illustrating one means whereby an indicator pointer may be connected to the expression controlling devices of the piano. In my patented device the indicating pointer projected over the music sheet so that the movablev end of the pointer could be caused to closely follow the guide line indicating change of expression at the point Where said guide line passed over. the tracker 55 board but such projection of the pointer over the music sheet is objectionable because the pointer has to be moved and held outof the way whenever the music sheet has to be changed and must be restored to its operative position after a music sheet has been inserted into position,

I now find that by the use ofa suitable reflecting device I can locate the indicating pointer away from the music-sheet and still produce an opltical juxtaposition of the movable end of t e pointer and theguide line on the music sheet where the latter passes over the tracker board. Such a reflecting device is illustrated at 6 in-the drawing a consists of a mirror of any desired width or by one or more length, this mirror being carried at its ends in this respect, much more convenient to move than the indicating pointer itself, since the movement of the latter is com licated by the attachments whereby the in icating movement is imparted to it. When the mirror is adjusted to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1, it occu ies a position just beyond the line of vision alling upon the music sheet where the same passes over the tracker board 3 and bears such relation to the moving lower end of the pointer 5 that the latter is reflected to the eye in immediate 'uxtaposition to this portion of the music s eet as indicated in Fig. 2, consequently the movements of the indicator pointer may be caused to closel follow the guide line on the music sheetat t e oint where it passes over the tracker boar the expression, tem 0, or other control can thus be closely regulatedi In the drawing my device is shown as suitably attached for use when the tracker board is below the level of the eyes. It is evident that if thetracker board should be placed above the level of the eyes, then the indicating pointer should be placed below the mirror and the mirror faced downward. It is evident also that the device is ap licable to the so-called outside players, as well as to pianos and or organs containin the playing devices.

board, and means for visually juxtaposing the moving end of the indicator ointer and that portion of the music sheet W ich is passing over the tracker board.

2. The combination of the tracker board and music sheet carrying devices of a selfplaying musical instrument with an indicatointer located outof the way of the music sheet and a mirror located in front of the latter in such relation to the line of vision falling upon the same'where it passes over the tracker board that the moving end of the indicating pointer will be reflected in juX- taposition to such line of vision.

3. The combination of the tracker board and music sheet carrying devices of a selfplaying musical instrument with an indicating pointer located out of the way of the music sheet and a mirror located in front of the latter in such relation to the line of vision falling upon the same where it passes over 1 the tracker board that the moving end of the indicating pointer will, be reflected in juxtaposition to such line of vision, said mirror being pivotally' mounted so that it can be moved out of the way.

- In testimony whereof,

I have signed my" name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. FREDERIC E. IVES.

l/Vitnesses:

GEO. MAoLEAN, u WM. N. TYLER. 

